Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Megan Slack

Planting a vegetable garden? Martha Stewart says this common mistake could stop you from 'mastering the art of growing'

Martha steart timeless cabinet colors.

There's nothing like a summer salad with homegrown produce, but behind a bowl of green goodness, it requires a lot of time, planning, and patience. If anybody can make the process somewhat simpler, however, it's Martha Stewart.

Over 12 years ago, Martha first shared vegetable garden ideas for those new to the experience, and her tips remain just as relevant over a decade later. It's the power of Martha Stewart, after all. Among her top advice was a word of caution: Don't start too big. It's a simple mistake, but Martha says that being overambitious too soon can hinder your planting sucsess.

'The biggest mistake is starting too big. If you start with a smaller plot of land, you can really master the art of growing. Then you can get bigger and bigger and bigger and dig more and more and make a more elaborate garden,' she says in the footage.

Shop Martha Stewart gardening essentials

Alongside addressing the most common vegetable garden mistake, Martha discussed the time she enjoys working on her plot, but it's not good news for those who aren't morning people.

'I like to go out into the garden as early as possible. A lot can be done before the phones start to ring, before guests arrive, before I want to start cooking. So I like to get out there, like 6 o'clock with the sun, and do as much weeding, cultivating, planting as possible,' she says.

Naturally, after years of caring for her garden in the morning, Martha is certainly no amateur. However, it doesn't make her tips for beginners any less influential. Next, she addressed the best vegetable to start growing: lettuce.

'A great vegetable to grow is lettuce. You can plant all kinds of lettuce, and there are hundreds of varieties. Lettuce is so rewarding because you can pick it as leaves, or you can let some of them go to heads and get delicious, healthy greens for your salad bowl,' she says. 'I think it's never too early to start, and actually never too late to begin either.'

We're on the verge of a Martha Stewart summer, so if there's ever a time to follow her example, it's now.


Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.